In the summer of 2008, only months after Kosovo declared independence, large queues formed for the new Republic of Kosovo passport. A Beta report published by B92 on 19 August said that heavy demand created big queues in the first weeks after issuance began at the end of July. Members of the diaspora applying during summer visits added to the pressure; counters opened on Saturdays and often continued working until 11 p.m.
A passport is more than a travel document. For a new state, it makes citizenship and administrative capacity tangible. For an applicant, it is a practical key to crossing borders. In Kosovo's 2008 queues, people waited for a small booklet while also watching the machinery of a newly declared country begin to operate.